I learned politeness on my mother's knee I learned by uprightness my number of friends Should increase

When I think about the things I've done I laugh out loud to no one Yeah, to no one

'Coz it's so hard to meet the eyes that I see When I try to open up my heart There's something inside me'n'I know it's good But understanding, it's misunderstood At the end of a smile, there's a laugh n a half

But I became honest Mr. Mistaken In spite of the curves my smile was makin' Bumpers and kickers in one big stream I grew up in a life size pinball machine! Yeah! - They're mean!.

'Coz it's so hard to meet the eyes that I see When I try to open up my heart There's something inside me'n'I know it's good But understanding, it's misunderstood At the end of a smile, there's a laugh n a half

On my behalf There's something inside me'n'I know it's good But understanding, it's misunderstood At the end of a smile, there's a laugh n a half

I tried to fill some silence 'Coz the silence feels so long

I knew the ice was gettin' thinner But I kept skating on! My mother threw me into this world as a winner But by the light of the yellow beer They tell the jokes I'll never get to hear!! On my behalf

There's something inside me'n'I know it's good But understanding, it's misunderstood At the end of a smile, there's a laugh n a half

On my behalf There's something inside me'n'I know it's good But understanding, it's misunderstood At the end of a smile, there's a laugh n a half At the end of a smile, there's a laugh n a half At the end of a smile, there's a laugh n a half At the end of a smile, there's a laugh n a half At the end of a smile, there's a laugh n a half

OK, this should be enough to not reveal any vital information to my opponent

A new game where I play the Axis, this time against Manstein63. The only rules we have decided on is; -server game (first for me) -random weather -alternative victory conditions

Some of you might wonder why I am not playing Brad (Oloren), and the reason is simply that I want to play against someone else. After some games you tend to become accustomed to how your opponent will (re)act, so I asked for and got a new opponent for this one. If anyone ever gets the chance to play Brad, take it! (Just wanted to say that)

So, this is written before the game is even started, so no turn for now. Instead I thought I would look at a few things that I think most players will be able to figure out by reading my AARs. 1. I have NEVER taken LG 2. I tend to get abysmal -41s 3. 1942 makes or breaks my game 4. My ability to make pockets have increased.

What do I know about Manstein63? a) Nothing

So, in this game, I am contemplating sending more panzers north to take LG in -41. This results in really activating the Fins, which means the USSR needs to guard more hexes. Furthermore, unlike in the previous game I played, I will look at which PzA that withdraws and NOT send panzers to that one, but instead use it as a mere infantry army. In the previous game I ended up with unattached panzer corps. That was really unneccessary...

The main plan apart from taking LG in -41 is to keep making pockets every turn. If I do that, and pocket more points than the USSR gains per turn, I am winning. It is actually almost as simple as that. Well...It is not really, but it is a good start

Hopefully someone besides me will read this one as well, and as always comments and remarks are always welcome. I might not always follow them, but they are welcome Oh, and in this AAR, it IS allowed to point out the flaws the OP makes in his actions. Cause they will come...The flaws that is

Manstein is a very good player that reads these forums. He will use all the latest and greatest strategies so be on the look out!

Also good luck

Yes, it seems to me that he has been answering/commenting in most of the "hot topics" in here. I think that my main asset is that I am NOT a good player, and I do not neccessarily do what is expected. I HOPE that might be a small benefit here.

Overall I really hope the lucky dice rolls Manstein got this turn will not keep up. The result of a few "unit xxx is thrown into the defence" can be seen in the last screenshot. Apart from that, I am not too unhappy about the first turn. For me, it is an improvement as Riga falls and we have units next to Minsk so that the factories there cannot be railed out. Not too happy about the ammount of held results I got though, and I even managed to get one Pz Div from 10 to 5 Cv in one turn... Have reduced max TOE of all gun units to 50%, and I am scared when looking at my pools, as my memory still remembers the numbers I had in the last game against Brad 24 helds, 87 retreats, 33 routs, 11 shatters and 18 surrenders means a total of 173 attacks.

Jeez Terje.T1 was never your strongpoint, but even so. You need to study forums and practice, though I accept this advice is a bit late. Problem is not Lvov pocket as those troops won't escape but allowing so many red units to rout out in centre and north.

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web exchange

Post: I am always fearful that when I put this game down on the table and people see the box-art they will think I am some kind of neo-Nazi

Reply: They already know you're a gamer. What other shame can possibly compare?

Yeah I know I know. I read AARs, I really do, however unless there is some weird way of getting more MPs to your units, what people do does not seem to work for me :) Nah, not too concerned about those routed units atm. But yeah, they will probably come back to bite me in the behind

Not necessarily. Sometimes they suck up so many replacements (being put on Refit to make them worth something) that they end up hurting the Soviets in the short run.

Actually I think he has something here from all the AAR's i have gone through. We shall see on turn 10 then 20 then 50 where we are at.........

Go terge! KILL KILL KILLQ! Death to the RED Menace!

So genius what panzer division did you manage to screw into the ground on turn #1 and bring its CV to 5? CAn we get a screen-shot of its organization please?

I think it was one of the light blue ones. Since this is a server game, I cannot take a pic atm. Tbh, where I am at at the end of -41 is less of a concern than how many units I lose during the Blizzard. WOuld be nice if I actually took LG though...

Not necessarily. Sometimes they suck up so many replacements (being put on Refit to make them worth something) that they end up hurting the Soviets in the short run.

Actually I think he has something here from all the AAR's i have gone through. We shall see on turn 10 then 20 then 50 where we are at.........

Go terge! KILL KILL KILLQ! Death to the RED Menace!

So genius what panzer division did you manage to screw into the ground on turn #1 and bring its CV to 5? CAn we get a screen-shot of its organization please?

I think it was one of the light blue ones. Since this is a server game, I cannot take a pic atm. Tbh, where I am at at the end of -41 is less of a concern than how many units I lose during the Blizzard. WOuld be nice if I actually took LG though...

Terje

I agree with you 100% on the importance of keeping your losses down to a minimum in the crazy blizzard blitz that has evolved in the game. A major key to your last game victory was not losing 20= divisions and bleeding to death in the winter of 41'. I know,amongst a host of other factors as well.

After a rather conservative German first turn in the encirclement field I am very interested to see what turn #2 brings in.

Will be nice to follow your AAR instead of rushing through it at the end.

Quick question... I'm sure you have a good reason but why doesn't AGN push on Dvinsk (Daugava)on T1? It looks like you have your powerful units at Riga which are not well positioned to threaten Pskov early. Of course, I'm confident you have some dastardly plan already worked out.

Since you beat the snot out of me last game, I have to be appropriately subdued, but the armchair general stuff is fun.

Will be nice to follow your AAR instead of rushing through it at the end.

Quick question... I'm sure you have a good reason but why doesn't AGN push on Dvinsk (Daugava)on T1? It looks like you have your powerful units at Riga which are not well positioned to threaten Pskov early. Of course, I'm confident you have some dastardly plan already worked out.

Since you beat the snot out of me last game, I have to be appropriately subdued, but the armchair general stuff is fun.

Best wishes on this one Terje, Brad

Hey Brad Easy to answer. As Sillyflower pointed out, T1 is NOT something I do well. In our last game I think I did not complete the souhtern pocket untill T3... I simply needed all those units to actually take Riga, and even now it was close with one held result before I actually took it. Plan?! Try for LG, avoid mass losses during Blizzard, and try to really hurt the USSR in -42. Apart from that, there is no masterplan

ORIGINAL: Tophat1812 I agree with you 100% on the importance of keeping your losses down to a minimum in the crazy blizzard blitz that has evolved in the game. A major key to your last game victory was not losing 20= divisions and bleeding to death in the winter of 41'. I know,amongst a host of other factors as well.

After a rather conservative German first turn in the encirclement field I am very interested to see what turn #2 brings in.

Yup, the German factories takes a beating they never really recover from imo if the Axis take too many losses during the Blizzard. Yeah, I too am interested in seeing what T2 brings

Overall There is no doubt. 1. I am rusty, and 2. Sean is not Most pockets were reopened, and the panzers around Minsk were cut off. This invasion is not off to a grand start, so let us hope things pick up. Pockets have been reformed, but we have lost a turn more or less all over the front. Sean left us a surprise in the south. See map below. The USSR launched 3 attacks, and scored 3 helds, so no big concern. We however still score way too many helds. Need to stop that somehow... 101 attacks gave the results of 21 helds, 54 retreats, 16 routs and 10 surrenders.

Overall Someone forgot to tell Sean that he is playing the USSR and that this is 1941. He is not running, in fact he is launching attacks several places. So far in my "career", I have managed; -beaing beaten to a pulp as the USSR -defending Das Reich for longer than anticipated -achieved Lebensraum for Das Reich. In this game however it seems I am about to set a new record : "shortest advance by any Axis player"... For the full extent of Sean's play, see below. The USSR launches 10 attacks, scoring 7 helds, 2 scouted and 1 retreat (against some Rumanians), and reopened the southern pocket as well as cutting off "some" of my units... I only managed 65 attacks this turn for a result of 14 held, 30 retreats, 12 routs, 1 shatter and 8 surrenders. This is NOT good.

Better screen of where you are and how you are stuck like a bug on fly paper. Hate to say this and its not glamorous,but you have to cover your advance or a good player will sacrifice units left and right exploiting openings to help keep you pinned. Call it aggressive rear guard tactics. Worrynot you always suck in 41' anyway,if things were going good I'd be concerned.

Better screen of where you are and how you are stuck like a bug on fly paper. Hate to say this and its not glamorous,but you have to cover your advance or a good player will sacrifice units left and right exploiting openings to help keep you pinned. Call it aggressive rear guard tactics. Worrynot you always suck in 41' anyway,if things were going good I'd be concerned.

Hehehehe true true. Where I am located; -1 hex south of the part of the Baltic going in towards LG, 5-7 hexes east of Riga -Surrounded Minsk -about 5 hexes east of where I was in the Rumanian area on T1. So, NOT good at all ^^